Assessment of COVID-19 Treatment containing both Hydroxychloroquine and
Azithromycin: A Natural Clinical Trial
Abstract
The goal of this study was to assess the clinical effectiveness and
safety profile of the COVID-19 treatment protocol (containing both
hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and azithromycin) in an Iraqi specialized
hospital. Methods: This prospective study used a pre- and
post-intervention design without a comparison group. The intervention
was routine Ministry of Health (MOH) approved management of COVID-19 for
all patients. The study was conducted in a public healthcare setting in
Baghdad, Iraq from March 1st to May 25, 2020. The study outcome measures
included the changes in clinical and biochemical parameters during the
hospitalization period. Paired t-test and Chi-square test were used to
compare the measures of vital signs, lab tests and symptoms before and
after treatment. Results: The study included 161 patients who were
admitted with positive RT-PCR and clinical symptoms of COVID-19. In
terms of severity, 53 (32.9%) patients had mild condition, 47 (29.2%)
had moderate condition, 35 (21.7%) had severe condition, and 26
(16.1%) had critical condition. Most patients (84.5%) recovered and
were discharged without symptoms after testing negative with RT-PCR,
while 11 (6.8%) patients died during the study period. The signs and
symptoms of COVID-19 were reduced significantly in response to therapy
regimen containing HCQ and azithromycin. The most common reported side
effects were stomach pain, hypoglycemia, dizziness, itching, skin rash,
QT prolongation, arrhythmia, and conjunctivitis. Conclusions: This
natural trial showed that COVID-19 regimen containing both HCQ and
azithromycin can be helpful to promote recovery of most patients and
reduced their signs and symptoms significantly. It also shows some
manageable side effects mostly those related to heart rhythm. In the
absence of FDA-approved medications to treat COVID-19, the repurposing
of HCQ and azithromycin to control the disease signs and symptoms can be
useful.